By Michelle Strydom
Partners, advertisers, and honoured guests were welcomed into the modern, sophisticated venue of Mesh Club. Before the speakers went into their formalities, the guests had a chance to explore the online platform on devices provided, marvel at the art on display and make use of the Virtual Reality (VR) goggles that were scattered around the space.
The procedures started with keynote speakers, including editor, Jacquie Myburgh Chemaly; and head of digital at Times Media, Lisa Macleod. The two spoke about what Wanted magazine already offers, and what Wanted Online will be adding to the already successful luxury magazine.
“Wanted Online will attract a new audience that may not be familiar with the Business Day Wanted brand. We’re expecting the website to open up a wider reader base and become the primary online destination for luxury advertisers across Africa,” says Trevor Ormerod, general manager of sales and marketing at Times Media.
Macleod added that besides aiming to target a new audience outside of Business Day readers, Wanted Online also offers a responsive, custom-built, and light on data approach to the brand.
Wanted Online is visually rich and does not hold back when it comes to distributing content that is representative of a luxury lifestyle with content ranging from arts, entertainment, travel and style to beauty, technology, business and motoring.
Apart from launching the digital platform and celebrating with advertisers and contributors, the event was as much about increasing interest in VR as it was about the website. Guests were encouraged to try out cardboard VR headsets by simply viewing VR videos on any smartphone or digital device. This property was supplied by Wanted’s VR partner, Deep VR. Other partners of the publication includes Bulgari, Estee Lauder, and Mercedes Benz.